Amman: The Eastern Mediterranean Public Health Network (EMPHNET) has released a regional report advocating for sustainable, community-led health solutions as the most effective way to strengthen health systems in fragile settings affected by conflict and climate change. The report comes at a time when the region is facing increasing health complexities.
According to Jordan News Agency, the report draws on 15 years of field experience across more than 15 countries from Afghanistan to Morocco. It presents locally relevant strategies to address rising health challenges, including increasing rates of non-communicable diseases, risks of epidemic outbreaks, and disruptions to health services in fragile environments.
Dr. Mohannad Nsour, Executive Director of EMPHNET, stated that the region’s public health risks are deeply interconnected and shaped by complex, constantly evolving realities. He explained that the report presents tested, operational approaches that can be scaled and strengthened now, highlighting proven community-based approaches that have demonstrated tangible and sustainable impacts in various contexts.
The report underscores the importance of establishing sustainable professional practices through the development and adoption of standard operating procedures and guidelines in areas like biorisk management, rapid response, and One Health initiatives. These practices facilitate integration in both fragile and stable settings and stress the importance of data-driven decision-making by utilising implementation science to support cost-effective interventions.
The benefits of cross-sectoral collaboration and a whole-of-society approach are highlighted in the report, particularly through the application of “One Health” principles in monitoring zoonotic diseases and climate-related health risks. Dr. Nsour noted that the report comes at a time of shifts in the global health financing landscape, calling for regional actors to play a more prominent role in shaping the future of public health.